Microsoft DOS and command prompt 02

About backup

MS-DOS application that enables users to backup their data on their computer.
MS-DOS 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, and 6.22 users use the msbackup command. However, this file is still available to these users on the MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.22 supplemental disk.

Availability

The backup.com and backup.exe commands are external commands that are available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
MS-DOS 2.x to MS-DOS 5.00a

Backup syntax

MS-DOS 2.x - 5.x syntax

BACKUP [Source:\Path\Filename] [Target:] [/s] [/m] [/a] [/d:date] [/t:time] [/f:size] [/L:LogDrive:\Path\Log]

Source:\Path\Filename	The source, path, and filename of the location of the file that you wish to backup.
Target:	The target drive for the backup file.
/s	Makes a backup of all files, directories, and subdirectories in the specified source location.
/m	Backup all files that have changed since the last backup.
/a	Adds a new backup file to existing backups instead of overwriting them.
/d:date	Backup files that have been created or modified since the date specified.
/t:time	Backup files that have been created or modified after this time.
/f:size	Create backup files in a specific size so they can be saved to an external storage such as a floppy disk drive.
/L:LogDrive:\Path\Log	Create a log of the backup and specify the location of where the log is to be saved.

Examples

backup c:\work\*.* d: /s

The above example would create a backup of all the files and subdirectories in the work directory and save the backup to the d: drive.

About batch

The batch command is a recovery console command that executes a series of commands within a file.
If you are looking for additional information about batch files we suggest you look at our batch file page.

Availability

The batch command is a recovery console command that is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Syntax

Executes commands specified in a text file.
BATCH Inputfile [Outputfile]

Inputfile	Specifies the text file that contains the list of commands to be executed.
Outputfile	If specified, contains the output of the specified commands. If not specified, the output is displayed on the screen.

Batch cannot be one of the commands included in the Inputfile.

Examples

batch myfile.txt

In the above example, the batch command would run through each of the commands in the myfile.txt file and display the output to the screen.

About bootcfg

The bootcfg command is a recovery console command that enables a user to rebuild, view, and otherwise make changes to the boot.ini file.

• Additional information and help with the boot.ini.

Availability

The bootcfg command is a recovery console command that is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7

Syntax

Use the BOOTCFG command for boot configuration and recovery
BOOTCFG /ADD
BOOTCFG /REBUILD
BOOTCFG /SCAN
BOOTCFG /LIST
BOOTCFG /DISABLE
BOOTCFG /REDIRECT [PORT BAUDRATE] | [useBiosSettings]

/SCAN	Scan all disks for Windows installations and display the results.
/ADD	Add a Windows installation to the boot list.
/REBUILD	Iterate through all Windows installations and allow the user to choose which to add.
/DEFAULT	Set the default boot entry.
/LIST	List the entries already in the boot list.
/DISABLEREDIRECT	Disable redirection in the boot loader.
/REDIRECT	Enable redirection in the boot loader with the specified configuration. Example: bootcfg /redirect com1 115200 bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings

Examples

bootcfg /rebuild

The above example would start the step-through for the creation of a new boot.ini on the computer.

About bootsect

Bootsect updates the master boot code for hard disk partitions in order to switch between BOOTMGR and NTLDR. You can use this tool to restore the boot sector on your computer and it can be used for FAT and NTFS based file systems, replacing the FixFAT and FixNTFS tools.

Availability

Bootsect.exe is an external command available in the below versions of Microsoft operating systems.

Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8

Syntax

bootsect {/help|/nt60|/nt52} {SYS|ALL|<DriveLetter>:} [/force] [/mbr]

Drive:	The drive letter to be searched.
/help	Displays these usage instructions.
/nt52	Applies the master boot code that is compatible with NTLDR to SYS, ALL, or <DriveLetter>. The operating system installed on SYS, ALL, or <DriveLetter> must be older than Windows Vista.
/nt60	Applies the master boot code that is compatible with BOOTMGR to SYS, ALL, or <DriveLetter>. The operating system installed on SYS, ALL, or <DriveLetter> must be Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 or later.
SYS	Updates the master boot code on the system partition used to boot Windows.
ALL	Updates the master boot code on all partitions. ALL does not necessarily update the boot code for each volume. Instead, this option updates the boot code on volumes that could be used as Windows boot volumes, which excludes any dynamic volumes that are not connected with an underlying disk partition. This restriction is present because boot code must be located at the beginning of a disk partition.
<DriveLetter>	Updates the master boot code on the volume associated with this drive letter. Boot code will not be updated if either 1) <DriveLetter> is not associated with a volume or 2) <DriveLetter> is associated with a volume not connected to an underlying disk partition.
/force	Forcibly dismounts the volume(s) during the boot code update. You should use this option with caution. If Bootsect.exe cannot gain exclusive volume access then the file system may overwrite the boot code before the next reboot. Bootsect.exe always attempts to lock and dismount the volume before each update. When /force is specified, a forced dismount is attempted if the initial lock attempt fails. A lock can fail, for example, if files on the target volume are currently opened by other programs. When successful, a forced dismount allows exclusive volume access and a reliable boot code update even though the initial lock failed. At the same time, a forced dismount invalidates all open handles to files on the target volume. This could result in unexpected behavior from the programs that opened these files. Therefore, you should use this option with caution.
/mbr	Updates the Master Boot Record without changing the partition table on sector 0 of the disk that contains the partition specified by SYS, ALL, or drive letter. When used with /nt52 option, the master boot record is compatible with operating systems older than Windows Vista. When used with the /nt60 option, the master boot record is compatible with Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 or later.

Examples

To apply the master boot code that is compatible with NTLDR to the volume labeled E:, use the following 

command:

bootsect /nt52 E:

About break

Break can be used to enable or disable the breaking capability of the computer. For example, if a user wanted to cancel a batch file or another MS-DOS processes, that user could press CTRL + C (break), which would then prompt the user if they wish to cancel the current process.
Turning break off will cancel CTRL + C; however, the user will still be able to press CTRL + PAUSE/BREAK and have the capability of getting out of a batch file or current running process.
Note: Newer versions of Windows (Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and higher) only include this command for backwards compatibility and turning the break off has no effect.

Availability

The break command is an an internal command and is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
All Versions of MS-DOS
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7

Syntax

Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BREAK [ON | OFF]
Type BREAK without a parameter to display the current BREAK setting.

Examples

break on

Turns on the break, which allows the Ctrl + C function.

break off

Turns off the break, not allowing Ctrl + C to cancel a process.